By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Following the recovery of outstanding N29 billion ground rent and other related charges from debtors in the FCT, the Coordinating Committee has announced that it will soon commence mass prosecution of titleholders, who have refused to pay their debt .
The Committee has promised to start massive legal action in the first quarter of 2023 to ensure that all debtors are brought to face justice or forfeit their property.
The Committee said that this warning is the last reminder in the outgoing year to inform defaulters about what they should expect in year 2023.
The Committee lamented that some debtors are recalcitrant in paying their prescribed fees, adding that it has no other option than to take this legal procedure, which might culminate into final confiscation of the affected property.
Also , the Committee promised to publish names of all defaulters, who have refused to clear their outstanding liabilities, especially those whose cases are before the appropriate court of law.
The publication of the names of the debtors already charged to court will send a strong message to other defaulters that the FCT Administration is determined to recover the huge debt owed it by property owners in the Territory.
Meanwhile, FCTA has placed caveat to deny such titleholders access to the property, and eventually forfeit same to the government.
Accordingly, the caveat formally placed is expected to safeguard such properties from being tampered with, especially by attempting to sell or transfer ownership because the matter is being heard in court, the Committee explained.
The forfeiture of the property of those that refused to clear their debts is also of importance to the FCT Administration, because such actions will serve as deterrent to all those recalcitrant to honor their obligations.
The FCT Administration said it is determined to use all necessary procedures to recover all Ground Rent debts owed by property owners in Abuja.
